Well, we’re back in one piece today after the craziness of Finland and happy to report, loaded down with prizes!! James and I scooped “Most Entertaining Couple” in the main race despite coming 35th out of 35 with a time of 2:22. We also made up half of the Team who are now ranked #3 in the world for the Wife Carrying Relay Race – I was the baton! I was ably carried by Gerard O’Shea (Caherdaniel, Kerry), Vincent O’SUllivan (Waterville, Co, Kerry) and James Kennedy (Blackrock, Cork)
Roll on next year – back to Sonkajarvi, Finland to defend our titles!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6 July, 2009
CONTACT:
Ciara Crossan
WeddingDates.ie
T: 021-4928993
M: 087-9577733
Email: ciara@weddingdates.ie
SHE AIN’T HEAVY, SHE’S MY WIFE!
Irish Team Storms World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland
Ireland have swept the board at the World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland this weekend, winning prizes in 2 out of the 3 races.
Part of the Irish contingent consisted of Ciara Crossan and James Kennedy who won “Most Entertaining Couple” for their hilarious race around the track which saw James swan-dive into the 1 meter deep water obstacle and a cheeky shortcut to the Finish Line. Which had the crows in rapturous applause, chanting “Ole, ole, ole!”
Crossan, who runs Irish website www.weddingdates.ie was delighted to be in Finland for the event saying, “The Finns have a great sense of humour and really know how to entertain the international audience. The ethos of www.WeddingDates.ie is all about enjoying your wedding and not letting the planning stress you out and what better way to do that than to take part in a bit of wife-carrying?!”
Her partner James Kennedy was impressed by the hospitality of the Finnish saying “ I have never felt more welcome in a place before – we will definitely be back next year to defend our title and enjoy more of the Finnish warmth.”
Ciara and James were also part of the relay team who are now ranked # 3 in the World with their team-mates Vincent O’Sullivan (Waterville, Co. Kerry) and Gerard O’Shea (Caherdaniel, Co, Kerry). The relay was run on the same course as the main event (250 meter course, 2 dry hurdle obstacles and 1 water obstacle) but required the “wife” to be the baton, being passed between the three “husbands”. During the handover the runners had to down a bottle of special “wife carrying brew”. Gerard O’Shea, commented after the race: “It was the Irish drinking culture that swung it for us in the end – we had no problem in downing that drink!”
Last years Irish Champions at the First Annual Irish Wife Carrying Competition held at the Sneem Festival, won an all expenses paid trip to Finland and the Irish duo came in a very respectable 8th place with a time of 1 minute 13 seconds (8/35). The Kerry couple would have been in the top spots, but lost out due to a stumble right at the finish line which added a 5 second penalty. Aoife Desmond and John O’Shea from Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry commented “now we know the track and the level of the competition we’ll be better prepared next year.” The top prize of the Wife’s Weight in Beer was won by a Finnish couple who have been vying for the title for 12 years. Their time was an impressive 1 minute 2 seconds.
All 6 of the Irish competitors are determined to return next year to defend their title. Sneem Co. Kerry is the home of Irish Wife Carrying and anyone interested in taking part in what has to be one of the most unusual world-sporting events can try their luck against the Irish champs at the Sneem Family Festival on July 25th. Check out www.sneemfestival.com for more details.
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Note to Editors: WeddingDates.ie [ https://www.weddingdates.ie ] is an Irish website that helps engaged couples search for wedding reception venues available on their chosen wedding date. WeddingDates.ie proudly supported the Irish Wife Carrying Team in Finland.
